Rod-Kohi area of Kulachi Tehsil has floodwater rights in

 Gomal Zam Dam. Water rights area of Rod-Kohi under Gomal Zam Dam cannot be ignored from irrigation in view of Riwaj-abpashi if storage water is available

Rod-Kohi area  has water rights in Gomal Zam. No one can deny these water rights after controlling floodwater of Gomal Zam Dam. Floodwater after storage belongs to Rod-Kohi area. Therefore no Rod-Kohi area should remain un commanded. The network of canal system should include this left over water rights area. The Rod–Kohi area covers almost the entire area of Kulachi Tehsil subject to the quantity of water available each year. As a matter of principle the water rights area must form project boundary. The network of canals should be planned to cover the entire area that has water rights under Rod-Kohi. The Rod-Kohi area has legal water rights under the Rewaj-ab-pashi. The Rod-Kohi irrigation means floodwater irrigation from hill torrents. Water to the new area can only be given after covering the entire Rod-Kohi area.

There are two types of water rights. The one area almost gets perennial water on a very small scale and the other area under Rod-Kohi gets floodwater that is now stored. Both the types of areas have the rights in storage water of Gomal Zam. New area if any should be given the last priority. Project Manager letter reveals that about 66000 hecters of land would be covered by the project. 66000 Hecter of land is a lot of land. This is equal to about 163,000 acres of land.  Moreover, if sprinkler and drip irrigation for irrigation is used, water will be saved and then water may extend to new areas. All this should be planned from day one. Extension of the system later on would be a severe problem. The infighting may be bloody.  

It is not understood why some water rights area is ignored of its water rights by the project planners. I believe this must be due to ignorance. This will result in bloodshed as no one would be ready that its area under Rod-Kohi is ignored. After the construction of dam, the price of land has raised from about 20-50 rupees per Kanal to Rs 35000- per Kanal and will further increase.

The Project Director has revealed that revenue record shows that 107 Mouzas have water rights on Gomal Zam, against this, 67 Mouzas have been considered in the planning of irrigation system within the project boundary. It is said this blunder is committed by the then Government of NWFP. It needs correction at the earliest. Water should not be released till then otherwise burning problem would be created.

During the planning of irrigation system, it was estimated that the average inflow is 674 Mm/year, whereas, the network of canal system within the project boundary is estimated to use only 400Mm/year. This shows the remaining inflow of 200Mm/year will remain unutilized in the system. It appears that the water rights area of Rod-Kohi is ignored. This may now be set right.

It will be impossible to extend the canal irrigation system to the area once ignored as the US aid will stop. Now there is chance to revise the project and continue getting aid from USA for the water rights area ignored. Once the US aid stops, it will be impossible to extend the project. The farmer then would never allow extending the system. The upper riparian will think their water rights are being usurped to favor lower area. Besides this, there will be no money. I am of the opinion that the work should continue till all water rights area is brought under canal system using 674 Mm/Year.

The area having water rights in Rod-Kohi floodwater cannot be ignored when 200Mm/year water is available.    

I may inform you that I discovered the Khajuri Katch dam site on Gomal River in 1959. But WAPDA could not complete Gomal Zam even in 2012 though the initial work at dam site was started by me in 1959. The work on old dam site on upper most reach of Gomal River was abandoned. Now in this project, as I understand more than one-third of the project area that has water rights in floodwater in Gomal Zam is ignored.  This means, the project is made inherently disputable from day one. This dispute which may take very long time must be avoided as stored water is time-based and very precious. Irrigation of this area will change the very life pattern of the people by removing poverty.

The area needs rapid development by mechanized farming. It needs cultivation by modern lines. The people have land in pieces. I suggest some sort of partnership with investors, especially the Arab world. The farmers should give land say for 40 or 50 years and the investors may do the rest of all developments. The investor share as fixed in cash or in kind may be taken away by them. The ownership of land will remain with the owners. He will get benefit according to his share of land. Let economist improve the suggestion.

Engr. Fateh ullah khan

Former Chairman IRSA.    Mobile  0300-5920641               Dated June 7. 2012